Junction-box.



W. (I. GRAHAM.

JUNCTION BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JUN 11, 1907.

949,426. Patented Feb. 15,1910.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM JAMES GRAHAM, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

aunc'rroiv-nox.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 11, 1907.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

Serial No. 378,450.

Io (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM JAMES GRA- inmr, of the city of Toronto, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Junction- Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to junction boxes used to connect combined gas and electric fixtures with the electric wiring and gas piping of a building.

Boxes of the ordinary type are inconvenient and liable to short circuiting causing a leakage of current, and my object is to devise a junction box which will prevent short circuiting, be perfectly fire proof, and to which the fixtures may be connected by the simple process of screwing them in.

Briefly my device comprises a box having a central tube which may be screwed on a gas pipe. The bottom of the box and the exterior of the pipe are insulated. The wires are led in through the sides of the box and are connected with connecting bars extending up outside the aforesaid tube. Each fixture is provided with a screw connection adapted to be screwed into the tube, and provided with insulated binding posts adapted to contact with the upper ends of the connecting bars when the fixture is screwed on in place.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention showing the combined gas and electric fixture in position. Fig. 2 is a cross section of the box. Fig. 3 is a face view of the box with the fixture removed.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

The box comprises a base A, to which is suitably connected a central tube B opening through the base. The box is also provided with the circular wall C in which the openings a for the passage of the line wires F and G are formed. The base of the box inside is lined with a sheetof insulating material 5, and a sleeve 0 of insulating material surrounds the central tube B and preferably extends somewhat beyond the outer end of the same. At opposite sides of the sleeve 0 are set the connecting bars D. These are preferably let into shallow recesses formed in the sleeve. The inner ends of these connecting bars are bent at right angles to form the feet 6. These feet are provided with the binding screws E by means of which electrical connection may be formed between the connecting bars and the line wires F and G. The connecting bars D are secured in position by the screws I-I pass ing through but insulated from the base A and screwing into the feet 6. The outer ends of the connecting bars are preferably bentoutwardly or widened to increase their contact surfaces.

I is a screw connection piece threaded into the central tube B, and provided with the flange f. Under the flange is fitted an annular piece of fiber or other insulating material g, the band being preferably extended down around the screw connecting piece as a short annular flange of substantially the thickness of the wall of the central tube B.

J are binding posts. The screws K connecting these binding posts to the screw connection piece I pass through the insulation 9 and the flange f. While the heads of the screws may form a sufficient contact with the connecting bars D I prefer to provide a washer h for each screw, the head of the screw being countersunk in the washer as shown. The fixture shown is the ordinary construction being provided with the usual gas pipe L and electric wires M.

The gas pipe screws into the passage through the screw connecting piece I, the passage being suitably threaded for that purpose.

The wires M are connected with the binding posts J as shown. The connecting piece I will usually form part of the fixture, the gas pipe L being screwed therein and the wires M connected. with the binding posts J.

The box proper is a permanent fixture, being secured to the wall or ceiling in any suitable manner.

A rosette N formed on or connected to the hollow arm 0 of the gas fixture forms an ornamental cover to the box when the fixture is in place.

From the above description it will be seen that all parts conducting current are effectively insulated and that short circuiting is practically impossible. At the same time both the gas and electric connections with the fixture are made by simply screwing the fixture into place. The parts of the box, other than the insulation, will of course be formed of metal or other fire proot' material so that the chances of any fire occurring are practically eliminated.

hat l claim as my invention isz- 1. A junction box for combined gas and electric fixtures, comprising a base; a central tube opening through the base; connecting bars secured to the base and extending up outside the central tube and suitabl insu lated from both the base and the tube; binding posts on said bars: a screw connection piece threaded into said central tube; and

binding posts on said connection insulated j therefrom and adapted to engage the ends of the aforesaid connecting bars when the screw connection piece is screwed in place. 2. A junction box for combined and electric fixtures comprising a base lined inside with insulating material; a central tube opening through the base and covered externall with an insulating sleeve; connecting bars secured to the base by insulated screws and extending up outside said sleeve: binding posts at the inner ends of said bars; a flanged screw connection piece threaded into the central tube and hating a threaded passageua; conmninicating with said central tube; binding posts insulated from said flange; and securing means for said posts insulated from the flange but extending I theretlnrough to engage with the outer ends of the connecting bars when the connection piece is screwed 1n place.

\VILLIAIil JAG lES GRAHAM;

Signed in the presence otlVILLLnI l lmvxnn M ioniiic'rox, HARRY Srnxcn lvni'rn. 

